DESCRIPTION DE L'EGYPTE. Achmouneyn (Hermopolis magna), Plan, élévation et détails du portique du temple. (ANTIQUITES, volume IV, planche 52)

Original etching in plano extracted from the 'Imperial Edition' of the Description of Egypt or Series observations and research made in Egypt during the French expedition, published by order of His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon the Great. Conducted between 1802 and 1830, she was taken in 1000 copies available to institutions. Laid paper with watermark see-through ancient and modern Egypt, protected by winds. Beautiful board of architecture found evidence of architectural decoration of the portico of Achmouneyn, one of the most important cities of Middle Egypt under the Hermes (Egyptian Thoth) umbrella. This portico has twelve columns placed in front of the temple. They are decorated with a typically Egyptian decoration and hieroglyphs to the abacus. The intercolumniations were closed by plates of chancel in a second state of the monument. A lesson of Pharaonic architecture. Tiny marginal foxing not affecting at all the board, otherwise excellent freshness and preservation. The monumental first edition of the Description of Egypt in 13 volumes contained 892 colored plates of which 72, including 9 volumes involved antiquity. The other volumes dealt with the Natural History and modern Egypt as Napoleon Bonaparte had brought with him a commission of scholars from all disciplines so that, they said, in his description was stored the richest museum of universe. The work was written in part by Baron Dominique Vivant Denon before he became DG of Napoleon in the Louvre Museum. More than 80 artists and 400 writers were hired for this huge project. The dimensions of the exceptionally large boards necessitated the creation of a special press and a specific piece of furniture to keep them ...!